The much-awaited announcement for the five-match Test series against England was made on May 24 (Saturday). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has included 18 players for this thrilling tour. The young and talented Shubman Gill takes on the captaincy mantle, replacing Rohit Sharma who has recently retired from Test cricket.
Appointing Shubman Gill as captain was a decision anticipated by many, and thus comes as no surprise. The BCCI has wisely balanced experience with promising young talent in this lineup. Here’s a closer look at key highlights from the team selection...
From CK Nayudu to Shubman Gill... 589 Tests, 37 Captains, Discover the Complete List of Indian Test Captains
Sudarsan and Arshdeep Singh Join the Squad:
Opening batsman Sai Sudarshan and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh make their debut entry into the Test team. Both players have showcased impressive form in the current Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Comebacks of Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur:
Middle-order batsman Karun Nair and fast-bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur are rejoicing their return to the team. Karun last played a Test match in March 2017 against Australia, while Shardul played against South Africa in December 2023 in Centurion.
Rishabh Pant as Vice-Captain:
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been appointed as the vice-captain. On the recent tour of Australia, Jasprit Bumrah served as vice-captain, even captaining in two Tests, but he is now relieved from this role.
Dropping of Sarfaraz Khan:
Middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan, who was part of the Australia tour squad, has been omitted. The selectors preferred Karun Nair over Sarfaraz. Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned that while such decisions can be unfair, the team management has to make tough choices.
Mohammad Shami’s Exclusion:
Despite speculation on his return, fast bowler Mohammad Shami hasn’t been included due to fitness concerns. Ajit Agarkar explained that the medical team advised Shami isn’t fully fit at this time.
India's 18-Member Squad for England Tour:
Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain/wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Karun Nair, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
Complete Schedule for the India vs England Test Series
First Test: June 20-24, 2025 - Headingley, LeedsSecond Test: July 2-6, 2025 - Edgbaston, BirminghamThird Test: July 10-14, 2025 - Lord's, LondonFourth Test: July 23-27, 2025 - Old Trafford, ManchesterFifth Test: July 31-August 4, 2025 - The Oval, London
